Roger Williams University
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in Rhode IslandBottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.2 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Rhode Island.
Every $1 spent returns $13.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,850,405.
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What The Data Says
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Graduates earn 72% more than the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $13.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
Why Roger Williams University Matters
Roger Williams University is a private university in Bristol, RI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,946
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Psychology
Why students choose Roger Williams University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 88% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1140–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $37,999 a year after grants and scholarships — 122% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $70,266 ten years after enrolling — 72% above the typical college, against $26,940 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 73% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.81 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of nearly 4,000 students, Roger Williams University stands out for those looking to blend a supportive campus experience with practical learning in areas like Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. The impressive acceptance rate of 88% indicates that this is an accessible choice for students who want to explore various fields while still receiving a quality education.
Looking at life after graduation, alumni see average earnings of $70,266 within ten years of completing their degrees. This suggests that graduates tend to find solid job opportunities, which is encouraging for those weighing the potential return on investment of their education. The university's focus on applied knowledge in fields like Legal Studies and Biology & Biomedical can make a significant difference in preparing students for the workforce.
In terms of finances, the net price after aid sits at about $37,999, with a median debt load of $26,940. This financial reality means that while the cost may seem high, many students manage their debt effectively, allowing them to pursue their careers without overwhelming financial stress. Students who thrive here often appreciate the close-knit community and hands-on learning that prepare them for the challenges of their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Roger Williams University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Roger Williams University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Bristol, Rhode Island, Roger Williams University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 88% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,223. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Roger Williams University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Roger Williams University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $44,418 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $37,999 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,778 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,940.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Roger Williams University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Roger Williams University earn a median of $70,266 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Roger Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Roger Williams University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Roger Williams University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $37,999/year ($151,996 total). Graduates earn $70,266 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,002,401 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,850,405 (13.2× your investment). The median debt is $26,940, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Roger Williams University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Roger Williams University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.06%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $111,600, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Roger Williams University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 22 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Roger Williams University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Roger Williams University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Roger Williams University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a private institution in Bristol, Rhode Island, Roger Williams University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 88% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,223. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Roger Williams University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Roger Williams University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $44,418 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $37,999 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,778 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,940.
Is Roger Williams University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Roger Williams University earn a median of $70,266 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Does Roger Williams University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Roger Williams University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.06%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $111,600, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Roger Williams University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Roger Williams University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.81 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Roger Williams University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Roger Williams University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Roger Williams University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.81 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note